Academy Trials U7/U8s

11 September 2019

The Shrewsbury Town Academy is hosting a recruitment day for next seasons U7 and U8s to give the best youngsters in Shropshire the chance to play for Shrewsbury Town.

The trials are open to U7s (Born between September 2012 and August 2013) and U8s (Born between September 2011 and August 2012). These trials will be held at Shrewsbury Sport's Village, SY1 4RQ on the 4G Astro Pitch on Saturday 28th

U7s: 12:30pm - 1:30pm U8s: 1:45pm - 3pm

To register, please click the relevant link below and enter the required details.

Shrewsbury Town's Pre Academy Manager Harvey Parkes has been with the club for just over a year now looking to improve the clubs recruitment through the younger age groups.

The Pre Academy is there too encouraged and nurture young players from the age of five years old to help them enjoy football and play for Shrewsbury Town.

ShrewsWeb spoke to Harvey to find out a little bit more of what the aims of the Pre Academy are.

"The aim is to recruit the best boys in Shropshire and give them the opportunity to play for Shrewsbury Town", said Harvey.

"Alongside that, it is to look further afield and look to recruit boys from the West Midlands, North Wales and the other areas close to Shropshire, to give the best boys in the area the chance to come to Shrewsbury Town at U9s.

"We also want to give the boys who we don't get the chance at U9s a great fantastic authentic childhood experience of playing Academy games, getting coached by professional coaches and having a very fun football experience."

Shrewsbury Town has a rich history of developing young players and bringing through the best local players into the first team. There have been times though when local youngsters have joined bigger clubs and Harvey is doing everything he can to stop that happening.

"It's tough as we have big clubs around us who are trying to take the best players from Shropshire, but my aim is to make sure those boys want to come here and want to stay here", said Harvey.

"I want to be part of something special and I don't think there is a better feeling than a local boy making a debut for his local team.

"That is what we want to push and promote and we will always try and recruit the best boys in Shropshire first as they know the area and know the culture.

"What we can offer is a clear pathway from the Academy to the first team and there have been many examples of our players playing in the first team over recent seasons.”

The next Pre Academy trials take place on Saturday the 28th of September at the Shrewsbury Sports Village. There are two sessions, one for U7s and one for U8s, and Harvey is looking forward to seeing the best of the local talent.

"The aim is to offer U7 and U8s the chance to come and trial for the Pre Academy", said Harvey.

"The dates for those are the 28th of September and I'm keen to get as many boys as possible to have an experience and to meet the staff.

"It doesn't matter what level they are at, I want them to come and have a great experience.

"For the ones who feel ready to come in they will be invited back in on the Tuesday, we also have a shadow development centre that is run by the Community where if the lads aren't quite ready for the pre-academy they will get the chance there as well."